Adult learners - funding???

NICCIW06

I am a 31yr old wife and mother of 3. My position is I look after the children whilst my husband goes to work. I would love to be in work also but childcare costs are 2 expensive so we mange off my husbands low income (£9673 last years income).

Being out of work my training and work experiance has lapsed. So we had a 2 year plan. I went back to college to train as an accountant. Completed my 1st year and came back to enrol this year to continue my studies..therefore being in a great position for work next year when my yourngest child starts school and found that there was no funding for anyone in my circumstances!

Cant study for level 3 as funding is only available if you are under the age of 26, on jobseekers or ESA???

Can anyone help a family who wants to support itself in the long run without having to rely on tax credits???

saintjammyswine

You could investigate an apprenticeship. Ignore people who say they are for under 25s there is no upper age limit and you would not have to pay anything. Can I assume you are talking about AAT L3? If so then as you have completed L2 you could go onto an Advanced Apprenticeship which has AAT L3 as its main element (there is no assessed element like an NVQ in this framework, only the AAT). The employer would probably pay around £500 for the qual.

NICCIW06

saintjammyswine wrote: »

You could investigate an apprenticeship. Ignore people who say they are for under 25s there is no upper age limit and you would not have to pay anything. Can I assume you are talking about AAT L3? If so then as you have completed L2 you could go onto an Advanced Apprenticeship which has AAT L3 as its main element (there is no assessed element like an NVQ in this framework, only the AAT). The employer would probably pay around £500 for the qual.

Yes I am talking about the AAT level 3, I have just completed my level 2. I asked my tutor at college I have been studying at about the adult apprenticeship, as several student on my course are currently on them. But they informed me that my GCSE's had expired therefore I could not apply for the apprenticeship. I also cant get funding to re-do my GCSE's either??

saintjammyswine

Not true, if your GCSEs are over 5 years old then you will do a Literacy & Numeracy Assessment and will go onto a programme to get a Level 2 equivalent qualification. These are Application of Number and Communication. This will form part of your apprenticeship framework.

NICCIW06

Thanks for that information, seems I was mis-informed by my tutor. I still have the problem of not being able to afford the childcare to go back into fulltime work as this is what I would need to do to go on the apprenticeship.

In the meantime I will look into the numaracy course and see if its affordable...I can maybe try the apprenticeship route when my son starts school nxt year.

mildred1978

Can your husband work full time?

saintjammyswine

has your local FE College got a creche or nursery? They may be able to help.

NICCIW06

mildred1978 wrote: »

Can your husband work full time?

My husband does work full time...

mavisangelica

NICCIW06 wrote: »

Thanks for that information, seems I was mis-informed by my tutor. I still have the problem of not being able to afford the childcare to go back into fulltime work as this is what I would need to do to go on the apprenticeship.

In the meantime I will look into the numaracy course and see if its affordable...I can maybe try the apprenticeship route when my son starts school nxt year.

A numeracy programme will be free if you have a 'diagnosed need' (shown by the college/training provider doing an initial assessment/diagnostic - no cost) and the dignostic shows you need a 'substantial prgramme' (more than 50% of learning required.)

NICCIW06

saintjammyswine wrote: »

has your local FE College got a creche or nursery? They may be able to help.

No they don't have a creche. It wouldn't be applicable if I went on an apprenticeship either as I would need full time nursery placement. Its the courses which I am struggling to find the funding for. My husband can rearrange his working hours to fit around a the course which is 1 day a week. Just can't get the funding since the government changed the rules, and I no longer qualify.

I used to qualify because I was in reciept of working tax and under the £14,000 income threashhold.

NICCIW06

Yes rang the college and enquired about the numeracy course. I can go in for an assesment. Thanks for the information its been a great help :-)